Full-Time Firefighter to Tee Off in Masters as Amateur

posted by Denise -

Apr 3, 2018

While Tiger Woods' return to Augusta National for this week's Masters will attract most of the public's attention, a far more unlikely competitor will tee off as well.

Matt Parziale gave up his dream of being a pro golfer to pursue a career as a Massachusetts firefighter, but retained his amateur status. Then, this past fall on a course outside Atlanta, he automatically qualified for the PGA's first major of the year by winning an amateur tournament.

As he prepares to tee off on Thursday, Parziale is being accompanied by his dad, Vic, who recently told reporters that he "can't read the putts" on Augusta National's famously fast greens. And after Parziale's tournament ends, whether it be Friday or Sunday, it'll be back to fighting fires.